Page 15 of Storm Warning

“Call me Riley.” She slipped past Andre and sat down. “Are you hungry or thirsty, Chris?”

He shook his head, yawning.

“What about you, Andre? Do you need anything?”

“Just you.”

Stunned, she stared at him. What did that mean? Was he simply saying expected words, or was something behind the statement?

Andre twisted in his seat with a grimace and faced Christopher. “Your father is meeting us in Texas.”

The boy’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I missed him.”

“He missed you too. Your dad would pay any price to get you back. Not every parent would do that.” Andre waited a beat for Christopher to comment. He said nothing. “He seems like a really cool guy. Is he?”

Christopher folded in on himself, his shoulders hunched and his head down.

A sick feeling built in Riley’s gut. “Christopher, do you want to go home?”

He shook his head. “I don’t want to talk anymore. I just want to sleep.”

She and Andre looked at each other for a moment. “Good idea, buddy. I think I might take a nap, too. You don’t mind, do you?”

The boy relaxed and straightened in the seat. “I don’t mind. I can keep an eye out for trouble, though. You said injured operatives can’t rest unless someone is watching their backs.”

Andre froze. “You’re volunteering to stand watch for me?”

Christopher nodded.

“Thanks, Chris. I appreciate that, but I have nine teammates, and they’re watching over you, me, and Noah. Jordan, our pilot, checked the jet before giving us the all-clear to board. No one but our pilot was on board. We have plenty of people to protect us.”

The boy nodded, his expression solemn. “If you change your mind, let me know, okay?”

“You got it.” Andre moved his hand where Christopher could see it. “For now, sleep. It’s the best thing for your body and your mind.” He lowered the seat back and raised the footrest. The boy just stared at him. “Rest, buddy. If there’s trouble on the jet, you’ll hear it and can wake me.”

Christopher snuggled into the pillow. “How long until we get home?”

“About six hours. Close your eyes and let go, Chris. I’ll be right here.”

“You won’t leave me?”

Andre shook his head. “We have a rule in the military. We don’t leave a man behind. You have my word I won’t leave you behind.”

“The kids at school think I’m weird.”

“Why?”

“I’d rather read a book or ride a skateboard than play video games. I prefer to be by myself instead of in a crowd at a party.”

“Oh, yeah?” Andre grinned. “What do you know? I’m not a party guy either. As for my preferred company, you make the list, and so does Riley.”

Christopher smiled, then settled deeper into the blanket and closed his eyes.

He wasn’t the only person who was tired on this jet. Riley felt as though her energy had drained out of her back in that horrible jungle. Whatever the kidnappers used to knock her out still lingered in her system. Protecting Chris had given Riley a shot of adrenaline, but the adrenaline had reached the end of the line, leaving her feeling exhausted.

Andre reached over and laced his fingers with hers. “You need rest, too.”

“I’m not the one with a bullet wound.”